1. Between 2000 and 2007, Texas added 963,000 jobs, growing at 10.2% during the expansion period. Florida, a somewhat smaller state, added 948,000 jobs (almost as many) and grew at 13.4%. But after 2007, Florida lost jobs for 3 straight years, while Texas only lost jobs in 2009, then added jobs. So the difference is in the recent years, where states such as Florida and California dropped out of the job growth derby while Texas continued to add jobs in 2010 and into 2011.

2. California, Texas and Florida have many more jobs than most states, so it is easier to add 1 million jobs, even with a middle-of-the pack growth rate. Between July 2001 and July 2011 (latest data, a 10 year period), Texas added 1.1 million jobs, but grew only 11.7%. Meanwhile, North Dakota jobs grew 20.2%, Wyoming grew 16.8% and Utah grew 11.8%. Even Arizona and Nevada have more jobs now than in 2001, but their growth rate is only about 5%. It is not accurate to say that the "rest of the country lost jobs," as if Texas is the only state that has more jobs now than 10 years ago.

3. Several states have added jobs in the past 10 years, but many have lost jobs as well, so that "the nation as a whole" has lost jobs. Correctly stated, Texas has added more jobs than the nation as a whole, but this is true of Wyoming, etc as well, since the nation as a whole lost jobs. Of all the states that added jobs in the past 10 years, Texas added the most. However, Texas did not have the fastest growth rate over this period.

Gov. Perry is lately saying Texas gained 1 million jobs on his watchwhile the rest of the country lost 2.5 million jobs. He's been governorsince late 2000. Thoughts?

wgs

W. Gardner SelbyEditor, PolitiFact TexasAustin American-Statesman

Visit our site: www.politifacttexas.comWe're also on Facebook and Twitter and so am I as twitter.com/gardnerselby512-445-3644

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